HORMONAL INDUCTION OF SEXUAL MATRUATION IN DOMESTIC WHITE STURGEON FEMALES

UNDER CURRENT CULTURE PRACTICES, FEMALE STURGEON DO NOT REACH REPRODUCTIVE MATURITY. THIS REPRODUCTIVE BLOCK STEMS FROM THE FAILURE OF THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM TO INITIATE GONADAL MATURATION AND FUNCTION UNDER THE CULTURE CONDITIONS. IN OTHER SPECIES OF FISH IT HAS BEEN FOUND THATTHE ADMINISTRATION OF GONADOTROPIN RELEASING HORMONE ANALOGS, (GNRHA) CAN BE EFFECTIVE IN INDUCING REPRODUCTION. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROPOSAL IS TO DETERMINE IF THE ADMINISTRATION OF GNRHA TO FEMALE STURGEON WILL INDUCE ENDOCRINE MATURATION OF THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM, AND BRING THE CULTURED FEMALE STURGEON INTO REPRODUCTION. TO DETERMINE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE GNRHA IMPLANTS, GONADAL TISSUE WILL BE EXAMINED AND BLOOD CONCENTRATIONS OF GONADOTROPINS, GNRHA, GONADAL STEROIDS, AND VITELLOGENIN WILL BE MONITORED. SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT WITH GNRHA WILL PERMIT THE INDUSTRY TO SURVIVE UNTIL LONG TERM SOLUTIONS TO THE CULTURING PROBLEM ARE FOUND.